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The History of the CompSci Degree

Posted by samzenpus on from the oldest-school dept.

Esther Schindler writes "Young whippersnappers might imagine that Computer Science degrees — and the term "computer science" — have been around forever. But they were invented, after all, and early programmers couldn't earn a college degree in something that hadn't been created yet. In The Evolution of the Computer Science Degree, Karen Heyman traces the history of the term and the degree, and challenges you on a geek trivia question: Which U.S. college offered the first CS degree? (It's not an obvious answer.)"

4 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting but... by madprof · · Score: 4, Informative

    The first taught computing course in the world was at Cambridge University, UK in 1953. Why not be a little more international in outlook?

    1. Re:Interesting but... by mister_dave · · Score: 5, Informative

      Why not be a little more international in outlook?

      If you read the article, it is:

      For reasons of space, I limited the question to American universities, but computer historian and former IEEE Computer Society president Michael R. Williams points out that many universities worldwide were offering CS degrees by this period. He received his own PhD in CS from the University of Glasgow in 1968. He believes Glasgow’s program dates as far back as 1957, since he was an invited speaker at its 40th anniversary in 1997.

  2. Re:engineer by brunes69 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Every person I know who has a Computer Engineering degree makes less money than I do. I also work with people who have nothing more than tech school diplomas who make more than I do and frankly can run circles around myself.

    When you graduate you will realize your degree is not what is important to be successful in the workforce. It is all about hard work, connections, raw talent, and a bit of good luck sprinkled in.

    Signed, someone with a BCS degree.

  3. Re:Purdue was first in 1962... duh by Yobgod+Ababua · · Score: 3, Informative

    Hells, Caltech still didn't have a CS degree in 1995.

    Our "CS" undergrads had to slide in under the fairly broad "Engineering and Applied Science" umbrella or else stick out the more stringent requirements (EE151, AMa95, etc) of a straight EE degree with a focus on "Computing". There were CS courses and professors, but no degree plan.